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Seepings 



Pooni. 



KEEPINGS 



Composed 
MAEY CUn^ONDEA 



Copyrighted, 1921, Ijy Mary Cecila Vondra. 






OEC 12 1921 



©CLA630774 



Ov© 



(^>llip()SO(I 

On 
March 30, 1921. 



Photograph Taken 

On 

April :], 11)21 



Book 

Publislied 

On 

June 20, 1921 



Piiblishod in Omaha 



Settiii.ii' 

l(^a(ls from the city, 

into the real country, — l):ick tlironii,li 

the town country, — and thence 

back to the warrier's ohl home, — 

Omaha. 



The 

character is a 

oirl of the far, deep 

wilderness,— for her first time 

in a I'ity, 



The 

poem itself is a 

coin])aris()n of one life 

with another. 



Pli()t(),i»raph 

is that of tho author, 

as representing- the character 

in the poem. 



1, 



"l'\e Icanu'il to lovo the city, 
It's ov'ry sight, and way, 

It 's bright ilhiminations. 
Which turn night into da v. 



2. 



"I love it's rumbling- trolleys, 
Shrill hoots of speeding- cars, 

The throngs of down town people, 
But hate it's lure which mars." 



8. 



"I'm lonesome for you, mother. 
Since God e:ill(Ml yon away, 

And townsfolk came to Woodsdale, 
Convinced I should not stav." 



"Tlioy'vo l)i'()ivi>lit nic to thoir mansion, 
'Tislikea"Lan(10i Nod," 

AVliere there is rest, and plenty, 
Bnt where there is no God." 



'They've stripix'd iiic of ii:y li<)in('S))iins, 
Your Avoary Ir.uids did \veavo, 

111 iiiodorn styles they've ehid me, 
But ohl memories cleave." 



(). 



"They've locked me in my study, 
With, 'You've a lot to learn, 

Tiife is too short for brooding, 
To sob, and plead, and yearn." 



7. 



''Home memories I cherish, 
E'en AVoodsdale's very rocks, 

I'd rather have you, mother, 
Than all my pretty frocks." 



8. 



"As I watch tlirou.nh my window 
The world, of which I'm fond, 

My sight, piercing' the skyline. 
Carries mv sonl hevontl." 



!). 



"[ travel o'er th(^ bylands, 
( )f hills, and valleys ,<i,'reeii, 

Bedecked with i^iist'iiing brooklets, 
Which beauty artists glean. ' ' 



10. 



"With cool springs as my "brightwines," 

Wild berries as my "bread," 
The soft winds as my "music," 

I "feast ''—a Godward tread." 



11. 



"I cross His marshy meadows, 

Where strive tlic hirks, and ([iiails, 

( )r which you taiii;ht me, mother, 
TjOiig, sweet, and sacred tah's." 



12. 



''Here 'tis a ''Sanctuary,"— 

It's "Lamp," — the glowing' sun, 

Winds say the "Benediction," 
Each day, 'till that day's done." 



13. 



"1 traiiij) o'er loiioly prairies, 
'Poll which the sun (U)es beam, 

Where ill their dreary (kigouts. 
The wihl l)easts reign sujireme. 



14. 



* ' I stride o 'er rolling barrens, 
Where dwells no grief, nor pain, 

Through forests of the "Red" men, 
And fields of wavin"' yrain. " 



15. 



"I've reached the woody h)wlands, 
Through which I used to roam, 

Where labor is a pastime, 

The wilds of Woodsdaye, — home." 



16. 



"I hear Eoe's silv'ry water, 
Lap softly 'gainst the shore, 

Toward stands it's musty row boat. 
It sails the depths no more." 



17. 



*'I tread the uan-ow pathway, 
Which h'ads from "Mossy Kock," 

And winds into the thickets, 

Where shrubb'rv forms a h)ck. " 



18. 



"Here stands our quaint, old cottage, 
Whose slielt'i'ing days are o'er, 

With little, latticed windows. 
And crudely cut, latched door." 



19. 



"I hear tlio gentle breezes, 
As with the leaves tliey ])lay, 

I hear the habe l)ir(ls cryhig, 
As "mother" flies away." 



20. 



"^ liear the distant church bell, 
Peel loith it's ovenino- chimes, 

It has not ceased it's mid rings. 
With chano'inu' of the times." 



21, 



" ' Tis (}()(! calliiii^- attontimi, 
111 Norc, — obeyed lie was, 

As, ])ausiiin- on the wheat fiehls, 
We ])raye(l the An,i>'elus. " 



22. 



"Sun's hazy rays are dying', — 
Cattle are treading home, 

I hear their bells' faint music, 
Bris'litenini*' the dull yloam. " 



OQ 



' ' The loneliness is breaking, 
By wolves' loud, dismal howls. 

And hooting in the tree tops, 
Of doleful looking owls." 



24. 



"I hear birds sweetly twitter, 
Nest 'ling for coming night, 

I hear the crickets' chirping, 

A song both, sharp, and spright. " 



25. 



''1 hear my own, faint echo, 
Ring- through the gioomy hme, 

When evening's shades are falling, 
'Pore niiiiit enfolds Earth's main." 



26. 



''Tho darkened world is starlit, 
The moon displays it's charms, 

Enshrines you on the doorstep, 
At rest, with folded arms." 



'H 



"Your tliouuiits arc with dear fatlicr, 

Wlu) loiii^' a.^o has i^oiie, 
[)iit (i()(l had wished it, iiiothei", 

\\v\ (iod's will must he done." 



28. 



^'I hear you murmur softly, 
When I sit by your side, 

As you hand me the teachings, 
To always be mv miide. " 



29. 

"I see you smile, and kiss me, 
As, crviiii;' you repress, 

1 hear your mournful sighing, 
I feel vour fond caress." 



30. 



''That dreadful morn, I live throui^-li, 
When, what did I behokl, — 

When I leaned o'er, kissed you, and,- 
Your lips were marble cold. ' ' 



ol. 



"On Wodsdale's hii^-liest liillock, 
Your rest bed sets, alone, 

Above the <hd{^ of sunshine, 

Where "Love Of God" is known.' 



"I feel the pain I bore, when, 
I left that "Land of God," 

Sighing })ines, bidding farewell. 
And you, beneath the sod." 



33. 



"Foi'givo my liitter sobbin.n-, 

Tlie tears have l)liirre(l my sight, 

The fond vision has vanishcMl, 
I^ike nature's lights of night." 



34. 

" L '11 'bide by your example, 
Thus live a sweet refrain, 

So pave my way to Heaven, 
Where we will meet ae-ain. " 



35. 



■' ril strive to scorn the w rouging 's, 
Of ''World of joy, and woe" 

And sow the seeds of "Justice," 
Where 'ere I chance to go." 



1^'inis. 









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